I guess since I use Linux, I am now the local tech support dude for friends. I got a frantic text from my best buddies sister (I had given him a Linux system a while back), she was using her Microsoft system using Edge when she got all these pop ups claiming that Microsoft Defender had locked her computer, and it was infected. She sent me screen shots via text. Fortunately for me, I had accidentally upgraded my daughters old computer to Windows 11 which is what she had on this laptop. All my windows systems are Windows10 not 11 except for this one computer. Thank goodness since Windows 11 hides so much that I needed to get her some help.

Windows Defender Security Center POP-UP Scam - Removal and recovery steps (updated) is what they looked like on the text message. She then called, and I told her to NOT click on anything, and I hope she had not called anyone. Nope, whew.... So I spent about an hour helping her clean out her system with malware bytes, run Windows Defender, and then install Firefox with uBlock installed. After a reboot, no more issues. Then I told her to add uBlock to Edge and walked her through that as well.

But what was odd, was this malware had blocked her anti-virus from completely running for some reason. But I am pretty sure we got it killed. She was running MacAfee since it came with the computer when she purchased it from Costco. I might offer her Linux Mint as an option if she does not have work specific programs that she is required to use.

I am SO GLAD I had one Windows 11 computer.

How often does this thing show up?